Cesc Fabregas happy for Antonio Conte to keep tinkering at Chelsea

The playmaker thinks Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte is right to rotate his options in a busy period of fixtures

Cesc Fabregas believes Antonio Conte’s tinkering will only benefit Chelsea.

Chelsea head coach Conte rotated his side for Wednesday’s 1-0 Premier League win over Swansea.

Cesar Azpilicueta was rested in the Premier League for the first time under Conte, ending a run of 74 successive league starts since December 2015, while Eden Hazard was relegated to the substitutes’ bench.

With nine games remaining in all competitions this calendar year, Conte is expected to keep altering his line-up, something Spain playmaker Fabregas welcomed.

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte and defender Cesar Azpilicueta — Cesar Azpilicueta did not start in the Premier League for the first time under Antonio Conte on Wednesday night (Nick Potts/PA Wire)

“If you keep playing, you will keep carrying knocks so it is good to have a break sometimes and come back fresher.

“To know that the team is performing and winning without Eden really being involved is very good.

“We started the season without him and he didn’t start against Swansea because he is the best player (and needed a rest).

“Beating Swansea has kept the momentum going. In this period of the year it is just important to keep getting the three points.”

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Swansea's Kyle Naughton contest for the ball — Eden Hazard came off the substitutes’ bench in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Swansea on Wednesday night (Adam Davy/PA Wire)

The Blues can afford further rotation against Atletico Madrid next Tuesday as they have already qualified from Group C.

Fabregas added: “I think it is important for everyone in the team, especially the manager, to know that he can make a few alterations to the line-up and the team can still perform and get the win.

“It is crucial for him and the team to see that we can trust anyone. In this case it’s a double victory because everyone is hungry to win, to play and to make it difficult for the manager.”

Germany defender Antonio Rudiger scored the decisive goal, heading in after N’Golo Kante’s shot was deflected into his path.

Rudiger is relishing taking part in the busy festive period for the first time.

Afterwards Michy Batshuayi, who is currently out with an ankle injury, posted an image on Instagram showing a hole in Rudiger’s left boot and blood seeping through the defender’s sock.

Antonio Rudiger's foot and boot in an Instagram post by Chelsea team-mate Michy Batshuayi — Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi posted an image of Antonio Rudiger’s torn boot (Michy Batshuayi/Instagram)

Conte expressed his hope that Luiz’s absence would be a short one.